Beginning of War
Germany, with the help of Adolf Hitler, started World War II by invading Poland on September 1, 1939. German Allies were Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. They were known as Axis powers. The countries that fought against the Axis Powers in the beginning of the war were Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France. They were called the Allied Powers. Later in the war, the United States joined them. Britain and France responded to Germany's attack by declaring war on Germany. Within a month, Poland was defeated by German and Soviet forces and was separated between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
Germany, with the help of Adolf Hitler, started World War II by invading Poland on September 1, 1939. German Allies were Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. They were known as Axis powers. The countries that fought against the Axis Powers in the beginning of the war were Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France. They were called the Allied Powers. Later in the war, the United States joined them. Britain and France responded to Germany's attack by declaring war on Germany. Within a month, Poland was defeated by German and Soviet forces and was separated between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
German Invasion 1936- September 1, 1939 (Invasion of Poland)
Began on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. They attacked Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and France. In 1940, fascist Italy joined on Germany's side. In Webster, Europe only the United Kingdom remained. Britain fought back and took over parts of London and other cities. Germany and Italy clashed with British in Greece and Northern Africa. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and Germany broke their nonaggression pact of 1939. Japan was allied with Germany and Italy. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and the German-created states of Croatia and Slovakia eventually joined the war. In opposition, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union and China formed core allies. The allies had 50 nations by the end of the war. Before Warsaw was taken over it was the largest Jewish community in Europe housing more than 350,000 Jews. In the Fall of 1940, the Warsaw ghetto was established. There was 1.3 square miles of Jews trapped behind barbed wire, fences, and gun mans. Many people died of disease. The population went from 400,000 to 70,000 because most were killed. In January 1943, the ghetto took arms against the German. In April, there was a rebellion. The Ghetto was burned and the Germans won. The remainder of the ghetto (50,000) was sent to camps. Several thousand escaped. Nazis withdrew. In January 1945, 90% of Jewish population in Warsaw died.
Began on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. They attacked Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and France. In 1940, fascist Italy joined on Germany's side. In Webster, Europe only the United Kingdom remained. Britain fought back and took over parts of London and other cities. Germany and Italy clashed with British in Greece and Northern Africa. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and Germany broke their nonaggression pact of 1939. Japan was allied with Germany and Italy. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and the German-created states of Croatia and Slovakia eventually joined the war. In opposition, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union and China formed core allies. The allies had 50 nations by the end of the war. Before Warsaw was taken over it was the largest Jewish community in Europe housing more than 350,000 Jews. In the Fall of 1940, the Warsaw ghetto was established. There was 1.3 square miles of Jews trapped behind barbed wire, fences, and gun mans. Many people died of disease. The population went from 400,000 to 70,000 because most were killed. In January 1943, the ghetto took arms against the German. In April, there was a rebellion. The Ghetto was burned and the Germans won. The remainder of the ghetto (50,000) was sent to camps. Several thousand escaped. Nazis withdrew. In January 1945, 90% of Jewish population in Warsaw died.
D-Day-Normandy- June 6, 1944
The allies planned to land five American, British, Canadian divisions between Cherbourg and Caen in the first phase of the operation. They made plans for this operation a year earlier. The timing of the operation was delayed by the bad weather. 5,000 naval vessels of all kinds had be assembled for the invasion. Landings took place 50 mile stretch of the French coast which was divided in five sectors, Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword. British forces landed easy from the fleet. The British warships had two battleships, twelve cruisers, and thirty seven destroyers. The Americans had three battleships, nine cruisers, and twenty destroyers. The Americans landed West. Allied naval forces came under attack from German motor Torpedo boats and destroyers. One British and one German were sunk, two allied destroyers.
The allies planned to land five American, British, Canadian divisions between Cherbourg and Caen in the first phase of the operation. They made plans for this operation a year earlier. The timing of the operation was delayed by the bad weather. 5,000 naval vessels of all kinds had be assembled for the invasion. Landings took place 50 mile stretch of the French coast which was divided in five sectors, Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword. British forces landed easy from the fleet. The British warships had two battleships, twelve cruisers, and thirty seven destroyers. The Americans had three battleships, nine cruisers, and twenty destroyers. The Americans landed West. Allied naval forces came under attack from German motor Torpedo boats and destroyers. One British and one German were sunk, two allied destroyers.
The Battle of the Bulge was a six month invasion of Normandy in June, 1944. The American and British forces drove the German army from France and began threatening the German border. The Germans launched a counter offensive in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium in a desperate effort to halt advance and capture the vital Belgian port of Antwerp. This battle was the largest engagement and the western front and the largest that American soldiers who almost all of the fighting had ever been part of. Half a million of American troops had been involved. The Americans had 70,000 casualties.
The Victory in Europe was also known as V-E Day. It was officially proclaimed by U.S. President Harry S. Truman on Tuesday May 8, 1945. It marked the surrender of German armed forces and the end of fighting against Germany in the World War. German surrender was signed off at headquarters of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in Reims France at 2:41 am on May 7th. Colonel General Alfred Jodl signed for Germany. He was chief staff of German armed forces.
Olivia R.